When You Feel Your Dancer May Be Falling Behind
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As a parent, it can be challenging to watch your child struggle with dance training, especially when you notice that they’re falling behind their peers. Assuming your dancer truly enjoys dance, it is essential to find ways to support your young dancer and help them overcome this challenge. Let’s explore strategies to help support your dancer when you notice them falling behind their peers.
Approach the situation with sensitivity.
If your dancer notices this themselves, it’s essential to approach the situation with sensitivity and not to make your young dancer feel like they’re not good enough. If it’s something you notice, remember that dance progress takes time, and everyone has their own journey. Be supportive and encourage them to keep practicing and working hard.
Communicate with their dance teacher.
Talk to your child’s dance teacher about your concerns and ask for their advice. They can provide insights into your child’s progress and identify areas where they may need extra support. They may also suggest alternative classes or training methods to help your child improve. Sometimes, they may even notice progress that you haven’t noticed so while they may appear behind others, they can see that they are in fact, progressing.
Set realistic goals
Help your child set realistic goals and celebrate each small achievement. Encourage them to focus on their progress rather than comparing themselves to others. Remind them that everyone learns at their own pace and that they will get there in their own time.
Provide extra support
Consider enrolling your child in extra classes to provide additional support and help them catch up. It’s important to use a teacher who is experienced in working with young dancers and can provide personalized attention. Encourage your child to take advantage of every opportunity to improve their technique.
Foster a positive mindset.
It’s important for your child to develop a positive mindset and learn to focus on their strengths rather than their weaknesses. Encourage them to practice gratitude, visualization, and positive self-talk. Remind them that dance is about physical ability, artistic expression, and emotional connection. Typically there are plenty of strengths you can acknowledge – some dancers find turns easy, others pick up choreography quickly, some have incredible stage presence while others may make leaps look effortless.
As a parent, it can be tough to watch your child fall behind their peers, but with the proper support and mindset, your young dancer can overcome this challenge and continue to grow and thrive. Use these strategies to help your child stay motivated and focused on their goals, and remember to celebrate every small victory along the way. With your love and support, your young dancer will achieve their dreams and reach their full potential in dance.
Sometimes with the school teams they are looking for a different set of strengths than what is considered a strong dancer at the studio. I know our school’s team focuses on hip hop and jazz styles while my dancers strengths are ballet and lyrical. Everyone has different strengths, and it’s okay to celebrate those strengths even when they don’t get us “on the team”. Our old studio had a try out format for their dance team, but the team was focused heavily on Pom style which is not my daughter’s strength at all. She was extremely discouraged but continued to work hard and try out, on her third try she finally made the team!
Another thing to remember is that auditions and not always getting the role, or on the team, goes hand in hand with dancing. Developing a little thick skin and not letting things hurt them is part of being a dancer, it’s far easier for them than it is for us moms I think!
I was once stuck in an airport with the entire Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and it just happened to be after one of the tryouts where my daughter had not made the cut. They were awesome and sent autographed pictures home to her and every single one of those girls had a story to share about how they had not made their high school team, or college team, or had gotten cut from other teams before finally making the cut. Their message was a strong, loud & clear KEEP TRYING! If you want it, keep trying!
Thank you Angela for sharing your experience! What a great story about the DCC in the airport. Glad your dancer made the team! Perseverance pays off. 🙂
This is certainly a tough situation. I feel that it can often be the breaking point for a teen as to wheather they will dance for life of give it up. As we know, so many often give it up. I do feel like continued practice and use of all opportunities is key. If she has the drive and the want, she can work really hard and maybe make it next year. At some point, it can be hard to continue to want it though with a lot of rejections. I wish you luck in helping her through this!